Immigration Practice News

June 2013 (Vol. 4, No. 4)

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IPN
Immigration
Practice News
Vol. 4 Issue 4
American Immigration
Lawyers Association
www.aila.org
AILA INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH
u
For June's Interview of the Month, AILA welcomes
Richard Blanco, the Inaugural Poet for President
Obama's second term, to discuss his immigrant
experience and the American identity.
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Avocation: 'A Calling Away from One's Occupation'
by Michael Carlin
A
s advocates, we plead cases
for others. According to
the Online Etymology
Dictionary, "advocate" derives
from the Old French and Latin
words avocat and advocatus,
meaning "one called to aid; a
pleader, advocate." Ad- + vocare
means "to call." By advocating on
behalf of our clients, many times
we are in an adversarial position
with respect to others, whether
they are adjudicating officers,
prosecutors, or judges. We plead.
We argue. We nag. Sometimes, we
aggravate others. And, let's face
it: sometimes, we get aggravated,
stressed out, and exhausted by the
battles we fight.
Advocates are "called to aid." But
our ability to advocate effectively
depends on our ability to bring
energy, intellect, optimism, and
determination to our calling. If
we spend all of our waking hours
in the role of advocate—and
therefore, in the role of adversary
—we become susceptible to
getting worn down, discouraged,
and cynical. As a result, we
become less effective as advocates.
our electronic devices from time
to time are two ways to relieve
stress and help us to rejuvenate. I
try to do both regularly.
In order to stay in the game,
we need to give ourselves a
break from the workday grind.
By engaging in an activity
completely separated from our
role as advocates, we can regroup,
recharge, and recommit ourselves
to our advocacy. To be sure,
engaging in frequent physical
exercise and pulling the plugs on
Another way to refresh ourselves
is to answer a different call. An
avocation is "a calling away from
one's occupation." The word
derives from the Latin: Ab- +
vocare means "to call away." An
avocation can be a means to focus
on something completely different
from our daily stresses, allowing
us to access reservoirs of creativity,
and develop a part of ourselves that
does not need to be competitive
and adversarial, but can be, rather,
artistic and innovative. By listening
to our inner muse, we can allow
ourselves to temporarily forget
about our professional cares, and
to tap into a wellspring of potential
personal growth.
"WHEN I SIT DOWN AT THE
PIANO ... I CONSIDER IT A
CHERISHED OPPORTUNITY TO
ALLOW THE ANALYTICAL PART
OF MY BRAIN TO REST FROM
THE CARES OF THE DAY, AND
TO ALLOW THE CREATIVE SIDE
OF MY BRAIN TO GET SOME
EXERCISE."
My own avocation is playing the
piano. Although I did have some
musical instruction as a child, I
never had a strong foundation in
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